The Pray in Jesus Name Project

Sending Petitions to God & Government to Defend Religious Freedom

About Chaps

WHO IS CHAPLAIN GORDON JAMES KLINGENSCHMITT, PhD?

“A voice calling out in the wilderness of this world, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD is a man on a mission. As a statesman and Christian activist, ‘Chaps’ wants to liberate the world with no-nonsense messages of truth and prayers of discernment. Through his strong personal convictions and direct communication style, he reaches into the hearts of people to help them become active disciples of Jesus, through television, prayer, petitioning, political activism, and education, drawing others toward their highest purpose and destiny.”

PhD Theology, National TV host, Political Activist, College Faculty, former State Legislator, and the former Navy Chaplain who dared to pray “in Jesus’ name.”

Dr. Chaps is TV news anchor of PIJN NEWS, a daily 1/2 hour show that reports the news, discerns the spirits, and prays the scriptures, in Jesus’ name.

SUMMARY: Gordon James Klingenschmitt (aka “Dr. Chaps”) is the national TV show host of PIJN NEWS on the NRB network which airs in 54 million homes daily, former State Representative having won election to the Colorado legislature, occasional affiliate faculty at Colorado Christian University, Air Force Academy graduate in Political Science, and made national headlines as the former Navy Chaplain who dared to pray “in Jesus’ name.” An ordained Pentecostal minister, he earned his PhD in Theology from Regent University and is ranked among “the top 1% most endorsed in United States for Preaching” by Linkedin in 2013.

He is now a motivational speaker, telling his true story of being vindicated by Congress after demanding his own court-martial, after he took a stand for the rights of military chaplains to pray publicly “in Jesus’ name.” By sacrificing his own ~16-year officer career and a million dollar pension, by demanding his own trial for the “crime” of worshiping in public, he inspired 300,000 petitioners, 85% of polled voters, 35 pro-family groups, and 75 Congressmen who mobilized to overturn the national military “non-sectarian prayer” policy, restoring the rights of military chaplains of all faiths to pray publicly, in uniform, according to the dictates of their conscience, even if they pray “in Jesus’ name.” His national petition organization, The Pray In Jesus Name Project, has delivered 5 million fax petitions to Congress supporting pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-freedom causes, and overturned government bans, restoring free speech and religious liberty in 13 states.

DOCUMENTED BIOGRAPHY: Who is Gordon James Klingenschmitt? “Dr. Chaps” served America nearly 16 years as a military officer, and was honorably discharged. As Navy Chaplain during wartime combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard USS ANZIO with 350 Sailors, his programs won six awards for community service (including “best in Navy”). His preaching and counseling ministry led 45 Sailors to faith in Jesus Christ in two years, (including an atheist, a homosexual, and a wiccan), and he saw the Holy Spirit do dramatic healings and exorcisms, but suddenly his career was threatened by a commander who punished him in writing three times, punished for quoting “exclusive” Bible verses in church that claim Jesus is the way to heaven (likeJohn 3:36), during one optionally-attended sermon inside a Navy base chapel. Investigators confirmed the skipper also downgraded Chaps’ evaluations for praying “in Jesus name” on the ship’s microphone, for obtaining Kosher meals for his hungry Jewish Sailor, and for refusing to support mandatory attendance quotas for a homosexual church, but Navy lawyers violated the First Amendment by ruling commanders had authority to punish his sermons and prayers. Navy public affairs repeatedly self-contradicted and misled the press when these facts went public.

“Chaps” was court-martialed for praying in Jesus’ name in uniform outside the White House.

Third, his immediate supervisor, Chaplain Norm Holcomb directly told Klingenschmitt he would be punished if he continued to pray ‘in Jesus name,’ while explaining SECNAVINST 1730.7C, and Holcomb was recorded on tape saying this. Holcomb later lied and conspired with Americans United to defame Klingenschmitt (and may soon face a lawsuit), since AU still today publishes Holcomb’s false statement: “He was not court-martialed for praying in Jesus’ name…He was never told that he could not pray in Jesus’ name. If fact, the issue of prayer had nothing at all to do with his dismissal from the Navy.” Really? NEVER told he could not pray in Jesus’ name? Let’s play the tape of Holcomb himself, saying: “Chaplain Klingenschmitt, will you go pray at this? Yes. Are you going to pray in Jesus’ name? Yes. You can’t go. If you do go, and you pray in Jesus’ name, you can be punished. Because it is the C.O.’s call. It’s the C.O.’s call.” Both Chaplain Norm Holcomb and AU are thus proven to be defamatory liars. Holcomb made similar false statements on the witness stand, imitating Judas who betrayed Jesus himself.

Klingenschmitt faced a choice, whether to deny Christ and stop praying “in Jesus name,” or to take a stand.

Chaps took a stand for Jesus, and for free speech. And his stand for Jesus cost him a ~16-year officer career, and a million dollar pension. (With 4+ years as an Air Force Academy cadet, Gordon actually served over 20 consecutive years on active duty, but his cadet years do not count toward pension.)

He was inspired by Peter and John, who were ordered in Acts 4 to stop preaching and teaching “in Jesus name,” but they disobeyed men, and obeyed God, who commands us in Colossians 3:17, “whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus Christ.” He said, quoting Luke 9:26, “I cannot be ashamed of Jesus, or he would someday be ashamed of me on Judgment day.”

Klingenschmitt was charged with one misdemeanor crime of disobeying “lawful” orders of CAPT Loyd Pyle, by praying in Jesus’ name in uniform in the presence of news media, outside of Sunday chapel, which Pyle and Holcomb had forbid. The so-called “lawfulness” of Pyle’s order depended entirely on SECNAVINST 1730.7C, since the Navy Judge, CDR Lewis T. Booker, ignored Klingenschmitt’s rights under Naval Uniform Regulation 6405 and 1401.3.b.4.b, and only enforced the new prayer policy that outlawed ‘worshiping in public.’ Booker admitted that federal law since 1860 protected Klingenschmitt’s rights to conduct “public worship” even in uniform, but that “public worship” was now restricted to the Sunday chapel, and Chaps’ prayer at the press conference was not public worship, nor a religious observance. “Much of the weakness of LT Klingenschmitt’s argument is his insistence on reading ‘public worship’,” Booker ruled, “as that term is used in Section 6031 of title 10, United States Code, and the current Religious Ministries instruction, to mean the same thing as ‘worship in public.’ It is clear, however, from testimony offered by two chaplains and from the Religious Ministries instruction (SECNAVINST 1730.7C), that ‘public worship’ is a term of art…One who reads a biblical verse or who recites a prayer at The Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park is not engaged in ‘public worship,’ although he may be worshiping in public…The order issued to LT Klingenschmitt was lawful.”

On 14 Sep 2006 in a Naval Station Norfolk courtroom, Klingenschmitt was found guilty of “worshiping in public” in uniform, disobeying “lawful” orders, and violating SECNAVINST 1730.7C by praying in Jesus’ name outside of Sunday chapel. 520 Newspapers ran the shocking news. That same day, 1000 miles off the Virginia coastline, Hurricane Gordon was swelling at full strength, and Chaps’ first name is Gordon. “That was my sign, God was smiling in heaven, and tears of joy filled my eyes,” Chaps said. “I was finally found worthy to share in Christ’s suffering.” But after his sad crucifixion, came a victorious resurrection.

Chaps was vindicated by Congress, who restored freedom to pray “in Jesus name.”

By enforcing SECNAVINST 1730.7C, the Navy brass fell into Klingenschmitt’s trap. The public was outraged, and Chaps had an 85% to 94% approval ratingamong polled voters. Klingenschmitt gave national talk-radio interviews all week with Janet Folger, who broadcast the phone numbers of all five state offices of Senator John Warner, (R-VA), who was flooded with phone-calls by outraged Christians. Klingenschmitt personally visited Warner’s office on Monday 18 Sep 06, and spoke to his Chief of Staff, revealing how SECNAVINST 1730.7C was enforced by the Navy court. The next day, Tuesday 19 Sep 06, Senator Warner made a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and gave Klingenschmitt a great victory over the Navy.

Chaps now travels the country, accepting speaking invitations, and is able to mobilize an automated fax-network of 115,000 pastors and churches to stand up for Jesus and take back our country. He has preached in person to tens of thousands of people in 28 states in 200+ churches, and been a guest on 300+ different radio shows and dozens of TV shows nationwide. Would you please email this short biography page to your own Pastor now, or any conference or event organizer, or TV or radio host, who comes to your mind? To invite Chaplain Klingenschmitt to speak, please email chaplaingate@yahoo.com or call 719-360-5132. God Bless you, in Jesus’ name.